1 |T L V NG ED TOR: W LMA BLOKHU S ^ | Spirit Award for MS volunteer STORY PAGE 17 Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 250) Fax 905-337-5567 email blokhuis@haltonsearch.com · WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2006 Relay for Life huge celebration of life Survivor and husband honourary co-chairs By Wilma Blokhuis OAKVILLE LIVING EDITOR Gay Longo, a cancer survivor, is celebrating life. She and husband Anthony Longo, long time supporters of Oakville's annual Relay for Life, are this year's honourary co chairs. Their company, Longo's, as food sponsor, donates all of the food giving Oakville's event the rare distinction of being one of the few Relays for Life that provides food to participants at no charge. `This is our 50th year for Longo's, the fifth year of the Relay for Life, and for me, the biggest celebration of all, my 10th anniversary of being cancer free. "Having breast cancer 10 years ago was very scary, especially when you have a six year old, a two-year-old and a nine-monthiold," she told the recent Relay for Life kick-off rally at Appleby College. "I was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, and thanks to research funded by the Canadian Cancer Society, and better treat ment, I'm still here. "I'm pleased to have been cho sen and it's a privilege for my fam ily and our company to give back to the community." She will be among the sur vivors who are the first to walk around the track in the Survivor's Victory Lap starting the 12-hour overnight event at Appleby College on June 2 at 7 p.m. The number of survivors who participate in the Relay has climbed from 80 in 2002 to about 200 last year, said retired teacher Paul Taylor, Survivor Chair for a second consecutive year and can cer survivor. He had prostate can cer seven and a half years ago. "If we get to that magic num ber of 250, I'll be really delighted. This is my personal goal." Increased participation by sur vivors is "one of the statistics we're proud off," said Barb Ambrosie, Relay for Life co-chair along with Steve Poplar, Assistant Headmaster at Appleby College. "Five years ago we did great and raised $262,000," continued Ambrosie. "Last year we raised $601,000. That's a number we're really proud of." Oakville's Relay for Life is sec ond in Ontario and fourth across Canada for fundraising. "We are tremendously successful for our population," said Ambrosie. "Every dollar we raise counts, and every year we've been able to drop our expenses, from $50,200 or 19 per cent of our total the first year to $41,863 or just under seven percent last year, despite having three times the number of participants. I assure you, we're very careful with our money." Over the past four years, Relay for Life has raised $1,761,786 in Oakville, "an amazing number," said Ambrosie. "This year we'll cross the $2 million mark." The event has grown from par- SABRINA BYRNES / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER YOUNG SURVIVOR: Shayna McDonald, a young two-time cancer survivor, chats with Joan Gibb, president of the Oakville Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society, at the at theTecent Relay for Life kick-off at Appleby College. ticipation by 97 teams in 2002 to 186 last year. This year's goal is to have 210 teams. To date 80 teams have already registered. Relay for Life has become known for its community spirit, said Poplar, co-chair for a second year in a row. Teams are invited to camp overnight at Appleby as team members spend the night walking the track lit by thousands of luminaries. "It appeals to all ages, people dress up in costume, decorate their tent sites...Oakville really shines for this event, which makes our Relay different from all of the others. "We celebrate people, lost loved ones, survivors and those current ly battling cancer, through the luminaries, and they light the track for others to follow," contin ued Poplar. "They are a very poignant and emotional memorial - just like the luminary ceremo ny." Poplar explained the luminar ies are labeled and placed around the track alphabetically; hence orders must be received by May 25 to be included. Luminaries sold afterwards and on the day of the event are used to spell the word hope in large letters on a small field near the luminary ceremony. In addition, as in past years, there will be metre sponsorships sold as a fundraiser. Similarly, organizers are asking all survivors to register by May 25, "however nobody will be turned away if they contact us later," said Poplar. See Ultimate page 17 St. John Ambulance 2400B Lakeshore Road W. Phone: (905) 469-9325 NHM KS? 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